MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT PLEDGES TO MAINTAIN OHRID IN

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000695

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EUN KK MK GR
SUBJECT: MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT PLEDGES TO MAINTAIN OHRID IN
FIRST MEETING WITH SOLANA

Classified By: Pol M-C Christopher R. Davis for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.


1. (S/NF) Summary: In his first meeting with EU High
Representative (HR) Solana in Brussels on May 13, Macedonian
President Ivanov pledged that Macedonia will "maintain Ohrid"
and continue on the path of reforms necessary to achieve EU
membership. Solana informed Ivanov that Macedonia would be
receiving "good news" from the European Commission on visa
liberalization, adding that the Commission might issue its
recommendation as soon as May 18. Accompanying Ivanov to the
meeting, Macedonia Prime Minister (PM) Gruevski stressed that
Macedonia was simply trying to survive economically, that he
wanted to see visa liberalization realized, and that
Macedonia wanted a date to begin accession negotiations. In
a short-notice meeting between Director General for External
and Political-Military Affairs Robert Cooper and Macedonian
Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Bocevski prior to the Solana
meeting, Bocevski suggested both that Macedonia was waiting
until after the European Parliament (EP) elections to renew
efforts to solve the name issue with Greece and might be open
to renaming Skopje's international airport if convinced that
Greece would respond to this gesture positively. Hearing
this, Council Secretariat Western Balkans official were
interested in learning whether the Deputy Secretary might be
willing to raise the issue during his upcoming trip to the
region. End Summary.
Bocevski-Cooper Meeting

2. (C/NF) According to Council Secretariat contacts,
Macedonian DPM Bocevski called Cooper requesting a meeting
prior to Solana's meeting with President Ivanov and PM
Gruevski. In what participants characterized as a very frank
discussion without notes, Cooper stressed that Bocevski
needed to look into the intimidation aspect and its affect on
municipal elections. Cooper suggested that this touched on
the Ohrid Agreement, something Solana cares about deeply,
according to Cooper. Turning their discussion to the
economic situation in Macedonia, Bocevski reported that
things were "very grim."

3. (C/NF) Regarding the name issue with neighboring Greece,
Bocevski said that Skopje could not move on nationality and
language until after the EP elections. Responding to
Cooper's question as to what Skopje could do, such as
renaming Skopje's international airport, Bocevski was
receptive to the idea. Cooper suggested Skopje not
immediately jump in, but first float the idea with the
Greeks. Cooper said that it would be important that Solana
also receive this signal in his later meeting with Ivanov and
Gruevski.

4. (C/NF) On the Skopje visit for Ivanov's inauguration that
Kosovo President Seidju was not originally invited to,
Bocevski indicated that Seidju had actually been invited,
citing a "lack of diplomatic relations" as the earlier hold
up. (Note - the Council does not believe that Jeremic's
visit to Skopje for the inauguration played any role.)
Cooper stressed that responding positively to efforts by
Pristina to end the border demarcation issue would make
Skopje look better vis--vis Greece; i.e., showing that it
can close a deal. Bocevski then indicated that Skopje was
considering inviting Seidju for an official visit, Seidju's
first. (Note - the Council also feels this would be a coup
for Pristina, since it would mark Seidju's first official
foreign visit.)
Ivanov/Gruevski-Solana Meeting

5. (C/NF) We are told that PM Gruevski reportedly wanted to
meet Solana one-on-one, but Solana refused to meet Gruevski
if not accompanied by Ivanov. The tone/atmospherics of the
meeting were reportedly very good, according to our Council
Secretariat contacts. Through a translator, Ivanov told
Solana "I know Ohrid is a core point of your life and part of
your heritage." While the Council is not sure Ivanov and
Gruevski would act on this, they took it as a positive sign
and that DPM Bocevski had clearly briefed his principals.
Ivanov added "we will maintain Ohrid," which reportedly
impressed Solana. During the press conference which followed
their meeting, Solana said he looked forward to seeing Ivanov
"in one of your cities." (Note - the Council feels this is
important, since Solana has not been to Skopje in years.)

6. (C/NF) Solana informed Ivanov that Macedonia would be
receiving "good news" from the Commission on the visa
liberalization front, possibly as early as May 18. Solana
congratulated Ivanov on this accomplishment.


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7. (C/NF) Towards the end of the meeting, PM Gruevski made
three points to Solana: that Macedonia was simply trying to
survive economically, that he wanted to see visa
liberalization realized, and that Macedonia wanted a date to
begin accession negotiations. On the name issue, Gruevski
told Solana that he had called back his ambassador from
Washington for consultations with himself, the president, and
the FM. He said "we cannot redefine our identity or
language" and told Solana that he wanted to call for a
referendum on the issue, per the constitution. He also
suggested that Macedonia would be in a waiting pattern until
after the EP elections.


8. (C/NF) Ivanov was also originally scheduled to meet with
European Commission President Barroso. As we understand it,
due to a choreography snafu on the Commission's part,
Barroso's cabinet did not find a way for Ivanov to meet with
Barroso. As a result, Ivanov reportedly snubbed Enlargement
Commissioner Rehn by then not meeting with him.
Council Secretariat Request

9. (S/NF) Given Skopje's openness to possibly renaming the
airport, Council Secretariat officials were interested in
learning from USEU whether it would be possible for the
Deputy Secretary to explore the matter during his upcoming
visit to Athens and Skopje. Council Secretariat officials
believe that if the Greeks were to show a willingness to
receive positively a Macedonian gesture such as renaming the
airport and this were then relayed to Skopje by the Deputy
Secretary during his visit there, Skopje might be convinced
to rename the airport as early as the second week of June,
after EP elections.

MURRAY
.